Base for fence-posts.



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BASE FOR FENCE-POSTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1907.

Application tiled May 1,1907. Serial No. 871,313.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIS B. WOODRUFF, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cadiz, in the county of Trigg and State of Kentucky, haveinventedl certain new and useful Improvements in Bases for Fence-Posts,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fence posts, more particularly to basestherefor, and has for its purpose to provide a device of that characterwhereby the ordinary wooden fence post may be firmly secured in theground, and yet may be readily removed therefrom at will.

Another object is to construct the base of such material that it maywithstand all possible conditions of the earth and thereby safely guardthe base of the wooden post against rotting or other injury.

A still further purpose, and an essential one, is in providing thepost-base with a means whereby the postsocket may be drained of anymoisture accumulating therein and thus at all time be kept in aperfectly dry state and thereby retain its necessary rigidity.

With slight changes in its structure my fence post is particularlyadapted for use in erecting temporary fences on soft ground or the like,whereby the base containing the post may be set into position simply bypressing it into the ground by hand.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, Figurel, illustrates one style of my post in applied position. Fig. 2, is aview showing the base in section. Fig. 3, shows the base in square form,and, Fig. 4, is a further modification, showing the base in the form ofa wedge.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like letters ofreference designate corresponding parts in the different views shown. Ais the fence post base made of a plaster composition or other plasticmaterial, and which is substantially cylindrical in shape, and has atits upper end a recess C adapted to receive the ordinary post B, towhich are secured the wires F that are threaded through the staples Gfastened thereon. Said recess C is gradually reduced in diametertowards' its lower portion thus providing a wedge shaped opening orsocket in order that the base end of the post B, which is likewiseshaped to conform thereto, may fit more closely therein as it is forceddownward by shrinkage. That portion of the base A which is adapted to beset in the earth has an enlarged recess L therein, thus making of thatpart ol the post-base a practical shell whose sides D are graduallytapered towards their lower edges as designated by K. By thisconstruction the post-base is gradually lightened towards its lowerportion, and its further provision is that the sides have their greatestthickness at the point where the lower cavity meets the post socket, andthus give a secure support for said post. At their upper ends the wallsD of the recess L are abruptly turned inwardly or squared, as at M inFig. 2.

As moisture and dampness will for various reasons accumulate within thesocket C when the post B is set therein, and ultimately rot that part ofthe post, I have made the socket C and the recess L in one continuousopening through N, adjacent the shoulder M, whereby any moisture ordampness therein may readily drain through the opening N and into therecess L.

The base .I shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that disclosed in Fig. 2,excepting only that its external and internal designs are substantiallyrectangular.

The base H in Fig. 4 is formed in the shape of a two sided wedge forinsertion in the ground. Its socket for holding the post B is exactlysimilar to that shown in Fig. 3. For draining said socket this wedgeshaped base is provided with two openings I disposed on either side.

Within each post socket C, and at a point approximately half way ottheir depth, are the staple openings E which are substantially elongatedslots disposed lengthwise of the post, and adapted to provide play forthe staples which are set therein to hold the lower fence wire. Thuswhen the fence is being erected the lower wire is secured thereto by astaple through the upper end ofl the slot so that in any subsequentsettling of the post within the socket C as it shrinks the staple withinthe slot E will have unobstructed movement.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is :M

A post-base of the character' described comprising a body having a postsocket and a recess therein, an elon gated opening within said socket, astaple secured to the post within said opening', said elongated openingadapted to permit unobstructed downward movement ot said staple when thepost settles in said socket.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIS B. YOODRUFFY Witnesses FELIX B. WILKINSON, ROBERT CImNsrLiW.

